Ministry of Health

This was confirmed by the Ministry of Health.

The latest results show that men continue to make up most of the vaccination numbers. 

Out of the total 34,888 individuals who have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, a total of 19,181 are males and 15,707 females. 

On Monday, vaccination administration was held in the villages which did not open on Tuesday which was Independence Day and was public holiday.

Vaccination centres reopened from 9am to 6pm on Wednesday. 

This brings the total number of people vaccinated to 29,518.

The Ministry said 15,671 men and 12,772 women have received their first dose of the vaccine. 

The mass rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine began in late April. 

The ministry’s guidelines state that people eligible for vaccination include those who are 18 years and older and people who are most at-risk of complications arising from COVID-19 infections.

The new measure applies to passengers who transit through the two countries but all other travellers within the European and African regions will be assessed on a case by case basis.

The Director General of Health, Leausa Dr Take Naseri, in a press conference, said the ministry is closely monitoring the new variant of the Covid-19 virus detected in the UK and South Africa.

Meanwhile, Leausa said a vaccine could arrive in Samoa between March or April next year.

TV1Samoa reports the revelation was made at a coronial inquest into the 2019 deaths of 23 year-old Victoria Samuelu and her baby.

According to the report, Coroner and District Court Judge Alalatoa Rosella Papalii was ''surprised and shocked'' that the nurse, Mele Leilua, was still employed at the Tupua Tamasese Meaole National Hospital.

Leilua, who was on duty the night Victoria Samuelu died, admitted at the inquest that she had injected the wrong medicine into the deceased's intravenous drip.

Leausa Dr Take Naseri held his first Covid press conference since March yesterday and spent the time highlighting the government's work to prevent the virus from entering the country.

His comments came after public concern that a 27-year-old seasonal worker, who had returned from overseas, had died of Covid-19.

The worker had spent 14 days in quarantine and had earlier tested negative for the coronavirus.

Leausa said a post mortem would be done soon but it was likely the man had suffered from heart issues.

He said people needed to be sensible.

Leausa Dr Take Naseri told reporters in the first pandemic press conference since March, that the government was not sitting around idly despite Samoa still being Covid-19 free.

Leausa revealed that a site was being prepared near the old Tafa'igata prison in case there was a local outbreak of the coronavirus which led to mass casualties.

He also said a second outbreak of the coronavirus in New Zealand was closely being monitored and the government was working on the possibility of new measures to protect the borders.

The flight arrived on Friday morning.

The passengers were checked by Ministry of Health as soon as they arrived at the Faleolo airport and straight away boarded vans to be self-isolated with specially assigned medical teams.

These passengers included stranded sports teams, RSE workers, students, government CEOs, returning diplomatic corps and families.

Ifereimi Waqainabete's comments came after reports that six families in the greater Suva area had refused screening procedures, including having their temperatures taken.

The minister said officials were returning to convince the families to be screened as part of a greater community programme which had involved more than 6,000 locals.

But Mr Waqainabete said ultimately, the families did not have a choice.

Under new laws introduced at the height of the measles epidemic, schools are not allowed to accept children who have not been immunised.

Parents queued for hours last week to get hold of the immunisation verification documents required from the ministry, with many unhappy that there was a fee imposed at all.

In a statement, the director general of health, Take Naseri, said the fee was wrongly imposed, calling it an outdated practice unauthorised by the ministry.

Dr Robert Thomsen said Samoa does not have malaria, nor the mosquito to spread it and quarantining the patient was a precautionary measure.

He said the Health Ministry was actively monitoring for 15 illnesses including dengue, influenza, diarrhoea, rashes and fever.

Dr Thomsen said, so far, this was the only major case during the games and the intervention was brief and effective.